Description
Classic Ambrosia Salad is a creamy, sweet fruit salad featuring mandarin oranges, pineapple tidbits, mini marshmallows, shredded coconut, and maraschino cherries, all tossed together with sour cream and whipped topping. This nostalgic American dessert is easy to prepare, vibrant, and perfect for holidays or as a refreshing side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Dressing
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup whipped topping (such as Cool Whip)
- 1 tablespoon honey or sugar (optional)
Fruits & Mix-ins
- 1 ½ cups mandarin oranges (drained)
- 1 ½ cups pineapple tidbits (drained)
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
- 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
- 3/4 cup maraschino cherries (halved and drained)
Optional
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the dressing: In a large mixing bowl, combine the sour cream, whipped topping, and honey or sugar if using. Stir well until smooth and creamy.
- Fold in fruits and mix-ins: Gently fold in the drained mandarin oranges, pineapple tidbits, mini marshmallows, shredded coconut, halved maraschino cherries, and chopped nuts if using. Mix carefully to coat all ingredients evenly without breaking the fruit.
- Chill the salad: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. This resting time allows the flavors to meld and the salad to chill thoroughly.
- Serve: Give the salad a gentle stir before serving cold. Enjoy as a festive dessert or a refreshing side dish.
Notes
- Drain fruits and cherries well to prevent a watery salad and maintain a creamy texture.
- This salad can be prepared a day ahead and stored covered in the refrigerator.
- For a lighter version, substitute Greek yogurt in place of sour cream.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Side Dish
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 230
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 60 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
